“And what do you do when you watch the goats?”
“Look about.”
“What do you see when you look about?” asked Sister Pansy.
“The sky, and the earth, and the goats.”
“Ah!” said Pansy, “it is very good to look at the sky, and truly wise to look at the earth, while it is clever to keep an eye on the goats; but Peterkin—Peterkin—you do not look far enough!”
“And when you look about,” queried Sister Satchel, “what do you pick up?”
“Nothing,” said Peterkin.
“Nothing!” echoed the visitor. “What! not even an idea?”
“What is an idea?” asked Peterkin.
“Oh, oh, oh!” said the three sisters. “Here is Peterkin, who not only never picks up an idea, but actually does not know what one is!”